A massive public rally against border fencing and free movement across the land of Nagas was held today in Eastern Nagaland.

At Shamator Town HQ, thousands of people including tribal bodies, students, and public joined the rally organised by Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) to show their resentment against border fencing and scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR)

Interacting with Nagaland Tribune, Rikhum, Vice President Yimkhiung Akheru Arihako (YAA) highlighted on the close knit and community centric society of Nagas since time immemorial. “The areas inhabited by the Nagas spans across large section of the present day Myanmar, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. When the Indian government enforced its boundary agreement with Myanmar in 1967, we were disheartened to see our people, near and dear ones being drawn up by this artificial boundary as aliens or foreigners. Centuries of historical ties, kinship and cultural and social bonds were ignored just so the Indian government could stamp down the voices of resentment and hostility brewing in the minds of the people the Indian government had forcibly annexed,” expressed Rikhum.

He asserted, “The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in addition to dividing the Naga homeland further added salt to the injury by announcing the scrapping of the FMR and as guardians of the present and the future generations, the Yimkhiung Akheru Arihako declares to fight against any move to fence the border tooth and tail”.

Yanba Showuba, Advisor YTC, shared that the public rally was organised to show  solidarity as one family including Nagas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Myanmar and Nagaland. “Today, we empathize with the anguish of having to obtain to access one’s own land, where free movement and cultivation have been customary for ages and to visit one’s own family the government have not allowed,” said Showuba.

For Showuba, the border fencing will profoundly fracture the Naga community by erecting a physical barrier across ancestral lands. “This “artificial/imaginary boundary” imposed by Government of  India and Myanmar feels like a deliberate “divide and rule” tactic, threatening to create severe internal strife and disrupt the social fabric that binds us. This fencing will deny us the fundamental right to live connected,” he expressed.

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“Through our collective voice, amplified in this expression and any rally, we aim to convey an unwavering demand to the government: cease the construction of this divisive border fencing and respect our inherent rights. We implore the government to understand that “Nagas are one” and should not be treated as separate entities based on an arbitrary line. We demand the government to “Protect our Ancestral Land” and “Respect our Indigenous Rights” by abandoning this policy that feels like a resurgence of “No Colonial Rules again.” We urge them to recognize that there is no national security without people’s co-operation. Our message is clear: We demand immediate revocation of the new system,” asserted the YTC Advisor.

Hanji, Vice President, Yimkhiung Tribal Council, maintained that the abolition of FMR along with border fencing, introduction of permits has severely disrupted the long standing historical. “Today, we are standing for our rights, we are the owners and nobody can put restrictions on our land,” said Hanji.

The program was chaired by Hankiu, Secretary YTC, while Makezho, Executive Chairman, YTC shared the introductory speech which was followed short speeches delivered by  Kiumehean, President Shamator Town Public Forum; Apong, President Yimkhiung Youth Organisation; Easter, President Yimkhiung Women Organisation. The rally concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Office, Shamator.

Noklak

Thousands gathered at Traffic Point, Noklak Town today in a mass rally, raising a strong voice against border fencing and affirming the Naga people’s right to free movement across their ancestral land. The rally was part of a coordinated mass mobilization across Eastern Nagaland – Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Shamator and Noklak.

Patun, President of Khiamniungan Public Organization, Khamti town, Myanmar delivered a powerful speech, emphasizing the need to defend the Naga way of life against external impositions.

The rally witnessed a  participation from  students, elders, and citizens which was a clear message of resistance to the central government against the border fencing.

Following the rally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Border Fencing and Free Movement Regime – Regarding” was formally submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Noklak.

The program was led by Puthai Lamhing, Joint Secretary of the Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC), invocation prayer was offered by A. Penglang, Pastor of Noklak Town Baptist Church (NTBC), Patun, President of the Khiamniungan Public Organization (KPO), Hq. Khamti,delivered a powerful speech, emphasizing the need to defend the Naga way of life against external impositions. Hatho, General Secretary of KTC, concluded the rally with a strong call for continued vigilance, solidarity, and collective action.

Kiphire

A mass public rally was held at Kiphire Public Ground to protest against border fencing and advocate for the Free Movement Regime (FMR) across the Indo-Myanmar border.

The rally was attended by tribal organizations, students, and the general public, aimed to send a clear message to the Government of India to uphold the FMR agreed upon by the Nagas in the past.

Nagaland shares a 215-kilometer border with Myanmar. This border, which is part of a 1,643 km long border between India and Myanmar, runs through four northeastern states: Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Mizoram. The Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed cross-border movement up to 16 km without a visa, is now being suspended.  Speakers emphasized that the artificial boundary cannot sever the bond between Naga brothers and sisters. Aketo V Sangtam, Executive Chairman of the United Sangtam Students Conference (USSC), highlighted that the Union Home Minister’s announcement to revoke FMR in February 2024 is not applicable to the Nagas, as some Naga communities reside in Myanmar areas beyond the artificial boundary.

The rally’s key demands included:

-Restoration of FMR Rights: The Government of India should restore FMR rights for Nagas to maintain their traditional ties and movement across the border.

-Opposition to Border Fencing: The proposed border fencing would lead to loss of land and separation of Naga communities, which is unacceptable

Various organisation including the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP), Eastern Sumi Kukami Hoho (ESKH), and Eastern Sumi Hoho (ESH), expressed solidarity and support for the FMR. The rally concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kiphire, urging the Government of India to reconsider its decision on FMR.